Fresno State Athletics
Wrestling Takes On Vikings and Roadrunners
1/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 24, 2003
BULLDOGS HOST ROADRUNNERS AND VIKINGS
Fresno state has a chance to extend their dual record to 6-4 by beating their next two opponents. The Bulldogs will host Portland State at 5 p.m. and Cal State Bakersfield at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. Portland State comes off a 25-16 loss to U.C. Davis and Cal State Bakersfield comes off a loss to Cal Poly, 23-13.
FRESNO TAKES ANOTHER WIN AT HOME
The Bulldogs took on No.10 Nebraska and won. Beginning the match at the 184 division freshman Greg Gifford got his first dual win, 14-12, against B.J. Padden. In next match up at 197 junior Marcio Botelho won by pinning Kyle Gubbles in 48 seconds taking the match score to 9-0. The Huskers first win of the night would come in the heavy weight division with Fresno State sophomore Clint Walbeck losing by decision to Mitch Manstedt. The Huskers would go on to win in the125 by major decision, 17-4, and in the 133 by decision, 9-3. Taking the score to 10-9 Huskers. Junior Casey Olson put the Bulldogs back on the board beating Matt Murray by decision, 5-2. The board read 12-10 Fresno State after six matches. The Huskers would go 13-12 after Zhon Kuraspediani lost by decision, 5-2, to Travis Shuflet. Junior Jim Medeiros would put the Bulldogs up 16-13 after his major decision 15-4, win over David Ingalls. But the Huskers came back with a decision win, 10-5, in the 165 division making the score 16-16. The last match featured Huskers No.13 Travis Pascoe and Fresno State's No.14 senior Eddie Gifford. Gifford pulled the win out with a decision win , 5-2.
BULLDOGS ALMOST ESCAPE SOONERS' GRIP
Fresno State wrestling lost its first home match 23-18 to No. 5 ranked Oklahoma. The lost gives the 'dogs a 2-4 dual record. The Bulldogs lost the first three weight classes; putting the Sooners up 13-0 after the 141 match. Fresno State's break through started when junior Zhon Kuraspediani scored the first take down in his 149 match. He would win by decision,9-2, over No.19 Nate Parker. Junior Jim Medeiros stepped up in the 157 match to win by decision, 7-5, over Rafael Maturino. Senior Ben Baca won his 157 match by forfeit over Wes Roberts. Senior Eddie Gifford continues his winning streak winning his fifth dual match in row. No.19 Gifford won the decision, 5-1, over No.7 Robbie Waller putting the Bulldogs up 15-13.Freshman Greg Gifford, younger brother of Eddie Gifford, saw his first dual action of the year at the 197 division. He lost by major decision, 18-8, to No.14 Tom Grossman.The last match and last win for the Bulldogs went to sophomore Clint Walbeck. He won the decision over Joe Tapler, 6-2, making the final score 23-18, Sooners.
TWO TOP BULLDOGS
Senior Eddie Gifford and sophmore Marcio Botelho are ranked 18th and 19th respectively by TheMat.com. Both won their matches against Columbia and Oregon State. Gifford and Botelho have the same dual record of 4-1.
WRESTLING GETS FIRST TWO WINS AT HOME
The Bulldogs claimed its first two victories over Columbia 23-14 and Oregon State 24-9. Junior Ben Martinez claimed his first win in his first match of the year in the 133 division over Columbia senior Steve Popovtich in a 6-3 decision. A major decision win in the 141 division for junior Casey Olson (12-0) over Paul Sewell from Columbia put Fresno State up 15-0 after four matches. Senior Eddie Gifford's major decision 14-4 win over Nick Carrier in the 174 division would be the Bulldog's last win of the match with the final score 23-14. Seven Bulldog wins would give Fresno State its next win of the evening over Oregon State 24-9. Sophomore Marcio Botelho gave the Bulldogs a good start in the 197 division with his decision win of 10-6 over Oregon's Jason Lovell. At the 149 division Zhon Kuraspediani was the second Bulldog to claim his first win of the year, doing so by major decision over Oregon's Tony Hook 7-4. Junior Jim Medeiros pinned opponent Jeremy Larson of Oregon in the 157 division at 2:26 into the match, putting the Bulldogs up 18-6. Two more decisions gave the Bulldogs their 24-9 score and a second win.
